Technology Services Showdown: SYM vs. COHR - Which Stock Reigns Supreme?

Symbotic (SYM) and Coherent Corp. (COHR) are both players in the technology services industry. SYM offers AI-enabled robotics technology for supply chain operations, with a high backlog of $22.4 billion. COHR delivers diversified applications for various markets. SYM's partnership with Walmart is profitable, but investors should be cautious about customer concentration risks. SYM's strong backlog positions it for future revenue growth, while COHR's diversified applications make it a potential smart investment.

Apple Inc. is significantly expanding its iPhone production in India, aiming to reduce its reliance on China for U.S.-bound devices. The tech giant has announced that it will produce all four iPhone 17 models in the country, marking a strategic shift in its manufacturing strategy. This move comes amidst ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and the imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods due to Russia-related oil imports.

The expansion includes production at five Indian factories, with two new facilities recently opened. Notably, the Tata Group and Foxconn Technology Group are key players in this initiative. The Tata Group, in particular, is expected to account for as much as half of India's iPhone output within the next two years, signaling a significant increase in its role as an Apple manufacturing partner [1].

India's iPhone exports have already shown notable growth, with $7.5 billion worth of iPhones exported from April to July 2025, up from $17 billion over the entire previous fiscal year. This rapid growth underscores India's burgeoning role in Apple's global manufacturing footprint. Additionally, Apple's investment in India extends to future models, including the iPhone 17e and the iPhone 18, despite the tariff concerns [1].

Apple's $600 billion U.S. investment over four years aims to secure tariff exemptions and expand India's role in engineering, testing, and supply chain operations. The company has been enhancing its India-based operations beyond manufacturing, leveraging the growing local talent pool for engineering and development tasks. The shift is supported by state-level subsidies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, helping to offset some of the costs associated with moving production from China [1].

Despite these efforts, China has attempted to counter the trend by discouraging technology transfers and equipment exports to India and Southeast Asia. Foxconn has also repatriated some of its Chinese engineering staff, with Apple relying increasingly on engineers from Taiwan and Japan to maintain production levels.

Apple's India manufacturing strategy was first tested in 2017 with the iPhone SE model and has since matured into a significant component of its global supply chain. The Tata Group has become the primary Indian assembler of iPhones, following its acquisition of Wistron’s factory in Karnataka and a controlling stake in Pegatron’s plant near Chennai [1]. This consolidation reflects Apple's long-term commitment to the region.

As U.S.-China trade tensions persist, Apple's efforts to diversify its manufacturing base are likely to continue shaping its global supply chain strategy in the coming years.

References:
[1] Apple Expands iPhone Production in India for US-Bound New Models (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-19/apple-expands-iphone-production-in-india-for-us-bound-new-models)
[2] Apple to Manufacture Full US-Bound iPhone 17 Lineup in India (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-manufacture-full-us-bound-121630896.html)